Game Ball With Improved Grip

ABSTRACT

A game ball with improved grippability for use in wet environments. The game ball contains an inflatable bladder and an outer shell. The outer shell has at least one water absorbent layer to improve the grippability of the ball. The outer shell has an outer layer, an inner layer, and an intermediate layer which is the water absorbent layer. The outer shell is made of a plurality of adjacent panels joined with one another at seam lines. The outer layer may be a nylon polyester fabric, the inner layer may be a cotton polyester fabric. The water absorbent intermediate layer may be a foam or sponge layer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This Invention relates in general to amusement devices involving game balls, and more particularly game balls that can be used in an environment exposed to water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Games involving the tossing of balls such as baseball, football, volleyball and basketball are common amusement games. Game balls can be made of various materials, including synthetic materials, fibers, or leather,or a combination thereof. The external covering of game balls can include multiple layers of materials designed to impart desirable characteristics to the game ball such as durability, strength, and grippability. External coverings can be made by enclosing the entire ball with one continuous layer, or by attaching together several panels of external material. Internal components of game balls typically include an inflatable bladder which is filled with air.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,512,777, 4,169,594, 4,515,852, 4,917,381 and 5,669,838 discusses external surfaces of game balls. U.S. Pat. No. 3,512,777 discloses an inflatable game ball in which raised simulated seams and the outer cover panels are all molded at the same time. A laminated material for use in play balls with layers of thermoplastic synthetic resins having different tensile strengths is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,594. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,852, a leather-like sheet material having low slip characteristics made with a fibrous substrate and an elastomeric surface layer results in a sheet material with a high friction coefficient suitable to prevent slipperiness in objects such as balls and baseball gloves.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,381 discloses a variable-weight play ball having an inflatable inner bladder of elastomeric material disposed with a non-stretchable outer casing of flexible material to create a water region in between. A game ball having a high end synthetic leather cover formed from a non-woven fiber mat impregnated with polyurethane is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,838.

The present inventor has recognized that known prior art pertaining to game ball coverings described, and others, have been disadvantageous for various reasons. For example, some of the prior art ball covers are not suitable for use in a wet environment as the covers do not provide adequate grip. Further, prior art that attempts to address the issue of slipperiness require the entire external surface of the game ball to be covered or treated with materials to enhanced a user's grip on the ball.

The present inventor has recognized the need for a cost efficient game ball with improved grippability for use in wet environments.

The present inventor has recognized the need for a game ball with improved grippability that does not require an additional coating or surface treatment of the outer shell.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a game ball with an inflatable bladder and an outer shell secured over the inflatable bladder. The game ball has a body which is generally in the shape of the desired type of ball. For example, if the game ball is a football, a generally elliptical shaped body is selected, while a spherically shaped body is used for volleyballs or basketballs. The inflatable bladder can be constructed with materials having resilient or elastic characteristics, such as rubber.

Preferably the outer shell comprises an outer layer, an intermediate layer, and an inner layer. The outer layer may be made from a flexible cloth material such as nylon or polyester, a combination thereof. Other synthetic or natural materials can also be used to form the outer layer. The cloth material may be smooth or rough to impart the desired tactile sensation and the desired grippability. For example, a larger game ball which may be harder to grasp when wet may use a rough cloth material on the outer layer to increase grippability.

The intermediate layer is disposed in contact with the outer layer and the inner layer. The intermediate layer is a water absorbent layer. The intermediate layer may be a sponge or foam material which is water permeable. The thickness of the foam layer may vary in accordance with various considerations, such as the type of g ball, the desired depth of grip, and the final weight of the ball when wet.

The inner layer is the layer in contact with the inflatable bladder and the intermediate layer. The inner layer may be a woven fabric, and may be made from synthetic fibers such as polyamide, polyester, polyurethane, natural fibers such as cotton, or a combination thereof. The inner layer may be water resistant or water absorbent. The inner layer is preferably a fabric comprising cotton and polyester.

The outer shell may comprise of several panels joined to adjacent panels at a seam. The seam lines may mimic those of a foot ball, volleyball, basketball, and other types of game balls.

Numerous other advantages and features of the present Invention will be become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a football of an exemplary embodiment of the invention with a portion of the outer shell removed for clarity.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the football of FIG. 1 illustrating various layers of an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated,

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the various components of the invention. In one embodiment, the game ball, for example a football 10, comprises an inflatable bladder 20, and an outer shell 30. The inflatable bladder 20 is generally in the shape of the game ball. An outer shell 30 is secured over the inflatable bladder 20. The various components of the invention will now be discussed in detail.

Inflatable Bladder

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrates an inflatable bladder 20 covered by an outer shell 30. The inflatable bladder can be filled with air, water, or other fluids,

Typically the inflatable bladder is filled with air. The inflatable bladder is preferably constructed of materials having resilient or elastic characteristics, such as rubber, to allow for expansion when filled. Other suitable materials for the inflatable bladder include synthetic rubbers, natural rubber, a combination of synthetic and natural rubbers, latex, and polyurethane. The inflatable bladder is constructed generally in the shape of the desired type of game ball. In FIG. 1 the inflatable bladder is illustrated as a generally elliptical shape suitable for a football. A generally spherical inflatable bladder may be used for other game balls such as a volleyball or a basketball.

Outer Shell

An outer shell 30 is disposed over the inflatable bladder 20, and encompasses or covers the inflatable bladder 20 in its entirety. The outer shell 30 can comprise a plurality of panels 30 a, 30 b, 30 c which are sewn, adhered, or otherwise connected together along a seam line 32. The outer shell 30 comprises at least one layer of water absorbent material. The outer shell comprises an outer layer 40, and inner layer 60, and an intermediate layer 50 between the outer and inner layers.

The outer layer 40 is the surface that comes in contact with the user. The outer layer 40 comprises a cloth material which is permeable to water and/or water absorbent. Preferably, the cloth material is sufficiently flexible to impart the degree of softness or hardness suitable for the particular game ball. Other materials, or woven and non-woven mats can also be used to form the outer layer. The texture of the outer layer can be smooth or rough, depending on the desired tactile sensation. In one embodiment the cloth material is a combination of nylon and polyester.

The intermediate layer 50 is a water absorbent layer. The intermediate water absorbent layer may comprise foam and/or sponge. The intermediate layer has a suitable pore density to impart desired softness and compressibility for the particular type of game ball. The pore density can also be used to suitably adjust the degree of water absorption and penetration desired depending on the water absorbent characteristics of the material used to construct the foam or sponge layer. The absorbent layer may comprise an open cell structure to increase the water absorbent properties of the game ball. The thickness of the absorbent layer can be any suitable thickness depending on various factors including the type of game ball, the degree of absorption of the layer, and weight considerations of the game ball when wet. For example, a football according to one embodiment of he invention may comprise an intermediate layer of about 4 mm in thickness.

The inner layer 60 comes into contact with the inflatable bladder 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and is in contact with the intermediate layer 50 of the outer layer. The inner layer 60 can comprise woven fabric such as one made from a combination of cotton and polyester. The inner layer provides structural support to the outer shell and enhances durability and strength of the outer shell. When the outer shell is gripped by the user, the inner layer minimizes the direct contact between the intermediate layer and the inflatable bladder, thus minimizing the wear of the intermediate layer.

The outer shell 30 may be connected and disposed over the inflatable bladder by connecting adjacent panels along a seam line 32. The seam lines 32 can simulate the seam lines of the particular game ball. Because the outer shell comprises a plurality of adjacent panels, it is possible to have adjacent panels with varying characteristics. For example, adjacent panels may alternate such that one panel is water absorbent while another panel is not water absorbent in order to provide more variation to the outer shell surface. In another embodiment, adjacent panels may be of different sizes.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. 

1. A game ball comprising: an inflatable bladder, and an outer shell disposed around the inflatable bladder, said outer shell comprising at least one water absorbent layer,
 2. The game ball of claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises an outer layer, an intermediate layer, and an inner layer.
 3. The game ball of claim 2, wherein the intermediate layer is water absorbent.
 4. The game ball of claim 3, wherein the intermediate layer is a water absorbent foam.
 5. The game ball of claim 3, wherein the intermediate layer is a water absorbent sponge.
 6. The game ball of claim 2, wherein the intermediate layer is approximately 4 mm in thickness.
 7. The game ball of claim 2, wherein the inner layer comprises a woven fabric.
 8. The game ball of claim 2, wherein the outer layer comprises a woven fabric.
 9. The game ball of claim 2, wherein the outer shell further comprises of a plurality of panels.
 10. A game ball comprising: an inflatable bladder, and an outer shell disposed around the inflatable bladder, a portion of said outer shell comprising at least one water absorbent layer. 